AK value studio question

[MHSweb79]

So I'm looking into renting DVC points for the first time for next May to get a few park days after a cruise.

I can get AK value studio for basically the same price as booking a regular room at the All-Star resorts. My questions are: Are all the DVC units in Kidani Village? How far is it to Jambo House? Would we need a rental car or is the Disney transportation OK?

Anything else I need to know? We've never stayed at AKL or rented DVC points, so I'm a little nervous. (Come to think of it, we've never done a Disney cruise before either!)

 

[erionm]

The Values are only in Jambo House. About 25% of the DVC units at AKV are in Jambo House. The two buildings are right next to each other. Depending on room location, the walk between the two can be a little as 5 to 10 minutes. Bell Services runs a van between the main entrances of each building.

AKL/AKV probably has the best transportation of any Disney Resort. The buses make two stops within the resort (Jambo House & Kidani Village) and then direct to their destination. The order of stops within the resort depends on the destination of the bus once it leaves the resort. Buses going to Theme Parks stop at Kidani Village first, then Jambo House then on to the Theme Park. Downtown Disney buses stop at Jambo House first, then Kidani Village before heading off to Downtown Disney.

We're locals and rarely do we use our car once we arrive on property. About the only time we do is if we are traveling between resorts for a meal.

 

[MHSweb79]

Thanks- I think I would rather be in Jambo house, especially if we decide not to get a car.

Now I guess the question is whether or not there's availability for the week we want.

 

[bwang123]

So I'm looking into renting DVC points for the first time for next May to get a few park days after a cruise.

I can get AK value studio for basically the same price as booking a regular room at the All-Star resorts. My questions are: Are all the DVC units in Kidani Village? How far is it to Jambo House? Would we need a rental car or is the Disney transportation OK?

Anything else I need to know? We've never stayed at AKL or rented DVC points, so I'm a little nervous. (Come to think of it, we've never done a Disney cruise before either!)

you may not be able to get a full week already in a value. they book fast (at 11months) and most of may is already inside of the 7month booking window for everyone. I did a quick search and did not see more than 2days together in all of May.

 

[chalee94]

I can get AK value studio for basically the same price as booking a regular room at the All-Star resorts. My questions are: Are all the DVC units in Kidani Village?

there are fewer than 20 value studios at jambo house and as stated, they are very tough to book at 7 months out or closer.

all DVC villas at jambo house are on the 5th floor (except a few club level rooms on the 6th floor). kidani is all DVC villas so you can get closer to the animals.

also, disney transportation from AKV/AKL is "okay" but there's always the risk that you'll need to be patient. the one time i've been frustrated with disney buses and gave up and drove myself to the park was at AKV...but generally it's fine.

it does take kind of a long time to get to the MK from AKV regardless of whether you bus or drive yourself...separate sides of the wdw property.

i'd definitely recommend AKV in general, though. amazing theming and great restaurants.

 

[scottashackleton]

So I'm looking into renting DVC points for the first time for next May to get a few park days after a cruise.

I can get AK value studio for basically the same price as booking a regular room at the All-Star resorts. My questions are: Are all the DVC units in Kidani Village? How far is it to Jambo House? Would we need a rental car or is the Disney transportation OK?

Anything else I need to know? We've never stayed at AKL or rented DVC points, so I'm a little nervous. (Come to think of it, we've never done a Disney cruise before either!)

I have stayed in Kidani before and it is a very quick walk to the Jambo house for restaurants, pool, etc... Kidani also has a great pool and gym right outside the front. We loved it there.

 

[carlbarry]

there are fewer than 20 value studios at jambo house and as stated, they are very tough to book at 7 months out or closer.

it does take kind of a long time to get to the MK from AKV regardless of whether you bus or drive yourself...separate sides of the wdw property.

i'd definitely recommend AKV in general, though. amazing theming and great restaurants.

I've driven from Jambo to MK, and it took about 10 minutes.

 

[erionm]

it does take kind of a long time to get to the MK from AKV regardless of whether you bus or drive yourself...separate sides of the wdw property.

It's approx. 7 to 7.5 miles from AKL/AKV to MK parking lot. Head out Osceola Parkway then turn left on to World Drive.

 

[mort1331]

old post I know but looking to see if the value is worth the less points,, what are the views,, asking about the studios,,,should I just bite the bullet and book the savanna view?

 

[chalee94]

old post I know but looking to see if the value is worth the less points,, what are the views,, asking about the studios,,,should I just bite the bullet and book the savanna view?

Views are savanna, pool or parking lot.

Book savanna view if it's what you really want. Book value if view is secondary and you don't mind a smaller room.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Only 2 of the value studios are parking lot view. We had one that was across from our other value studio, that one was savannah view. It worked out well for us, we hung out on the savannah balcony, but each of us 4 had our own bed!

 

[carlbarry]

old post I know but looking to see if the value is worth the less points,, what are the views,, asking about the studios,,,should I just bite the bullet and book the savanna view?

If I remember properly, there is a severely limited number of value rooms, so they are difficult to get.

 

[ToddyLu]

We had 2 savannah views in our values last year. They were in the front curve on the back looking out. If I can find the views I will post....somehow.

 

[ToddyLu]

We were right off the lobby, to the left on the fifth floor.

this is our room looking right from balcony




looking left out at Kidani



straight off balcony

 

[Brandis]

ToddyLu, that's the same room I had 2 years ago. Really liked it, close to the lobby and nice view. Also booked it pretty much last minute, about 2 months before the trip.

However, not much animals around in the morning when we got up or before going to bet. But once I got up around 2 or 3 at night and could take some great pictures of the giraffes.

EDIT: Just looked at my photos again and it seems our room was 1 or 2 rooms closer to the lobby, it was actually the second door to the right on Ostrich trail.

 

[mort1331]

So still in a bind,,should I keep the value and roll the dice on the view,,,or just book the savanna view?

 

[MouseMomx2]

So still in a bind,,should I keep the value and roll the dice on the view,,,or just book the savanna view?

That is something only you can answer. How important is the savannah view to you? Is it more important to you to save the points? There are lots of animal viewing areas in the resort so you will see them without a savannah view room, but if you want to see them from your balcony you should probably guarantee that by booking one.

 

[dgaston]

Animals on the Sunset Savanna go to the barn from 8 to 10 in the am. At AKV they are on the Savannas for 22 hours which is a pretty long period of time. The keepers are great at moving browse around so they will visit most of the savanna and be close to the views at some point.

I love the value rooms, whether savanna or pool. So far we haven't had the parking lot view, which looks to be mostly tree view at this point.

Better than back in the day when I paid dearly for a bunk bed room and was graced with a first floor pool view room down by the gym with a view ... wait for it ... of a Disney boulder. (Fake, too) Well it was planted with a few impatiens. My kids still tease me about how upset I was.

Love, love, love the values.

 

[dzorn]

We love the value rooms. Rather have a longer stay and take the chance on view.

Denise in MI

 

[ToddyLu]

DH and I also vote for longer stay and risk the view. However we have had savanna view rooms before so we had already experienced "great views". If this is your first time I could see splurging on SV, but after that value all the way.

Values are allowing us two extra nights this next trip so we can do MNHHSP and MVMCP in one trip...DH's bucket list trip to do those two.


One of my Fav photos from our first value trip last year (Nov 2012)